Sales slide in February

n Smaller towns fare best; Houston is static.
By Mack Spencer
Monitor-Herald
The local economic slump is continuing in the Twin Counties, as sales tax returns dropped again in eight of 12 area municipalities.
Vardaman made the biggest gain over February 2008, with a $1,300 rise. Derma and Okolona advanced $300, Pittsboro $200, Woodland about $500.
Returns in Houston and Houlka for the month were virtually static, down only about $30 in Houston while Houlka’s returns rose about $100.
Bruce’s drop in returns of about $3,400 was the biggest in the area. The next highest, Calhoun City and Mantee had similar drops, $1,300 and $1,200.
Big Creek had the biggest percentage drop, almost 40 percent. Slate Springs dipped more than 20 percent.
For the year so far:
n Big Creek – down $900 for the year.
n Bruce – down $16,000 for the year.
n Calhoun City – up $5,500 for the year.
n Derma – up $1,750 for the year.
n Houlka – dow $4,000 for the year.
n Houston – down $7,500 for the year.
n Mantee – down $600 for the year.
n Okolona – down $7,500 for the year.
n Pittsboro – up $100 for the year.
n Slate Springs – up $60 for the year.
n Vardaman – up $4,000 for the year.
n Woodland – down $8,000 for the year.